Extreme fear and phobia ruining my life!

[Glittersmoke]

Hi
ive had for many years an extreme fear of vomiting bugs. Not me being sick but others around me. I carry and use hand sanitizer all the time, wash my hands until they are so sore they often crack. I can’t go anywhere near an ill person. If a cup/spoon /blanket etc have been used either during an illness or just b4 by my children I have to dispose of that item. Sickness in the house results in child being isolated for minimum 48hrs with sole use of a bathroom.
I can’t let my children enjoy anything due to absolute fear of them getting ill
I don’t use public transport
I won’t step on dark patches on the path/street in case it was wear someone threw up.
ive been known to remove my children early from school if I know a bug is going round. I hyperventilate and rock and cry I just can’t cope! Too make this worse I work in an environment wear I’m exposed to it regularly but that does nothing to help me rationalise the problem.
Sickness bug season is approaching and one of my children have already gone down I’m terrified of them passing it on
ive approached doctor/health visitors etc but no help ( made to feel I’m silly etc really)
I don’t know what too do it’s destroying me.
its definitely getting worse
I don’t know what too do.

Emetophobia isn't silly and it is very common. I really feel for you because your life sounds very hard and distressing. It is possible to make substantial improvements so that it isn't getting in your way quite so much even when anxiety is very severe. There are a few different elements and it can be part of OCD or health anxiety or a "stand alone" phobia or part of a response to a traumatic event/s. Only a decent assessment of you can work out what is going on and what the best treatment approach would be using CBT.

Your GP should be able to refer you but the wait can be long and the sessions too few (not always, it depends on the service in your area). You could contact the BABCP for the name of an accredited CBT therapist. It may also be worth looking further at the work of Professor David Veale who runs a specialist Emetophobia clinic at the Maudsley and Bethlehem Hospitals in London (though I don't know your location).
There IS help out there. xx
www.veale.co.uk/nhs-appointments/
www.veale.co.uk/emetophobia/

Thank you so much
it’s absolutely all consuming and comes from several of my children being hospitalised with simple vomiting bugs in the past
it’s all I think about all the time.
it’s impossible to get to talk to a GP unfortunately unless it’s a medical emergency.
im dreading phoning my boss tomorrow and explaining I can’t come in because of yet another sickness bug, they are the least understanding person I know.

You could self-refer to IAPT (NHS talking therapies provision), you don't have to go through your GP. They should offer you a telephone or face to face assessment. IAPT may not be enough for you but it would be a good place to start. If you Google IAPT and your nearest town you should be able to find your service and you should be able to fill in a self referral form. If you can go private then you could call Prof Veale's secretary (link above) and she if she can signpost you.

There is another Specialist Psychological Intervention Centre in Oxford and of course there are others. Start with an IAPT self referral if going the NHS route. Do stick with properly trained and BABCP accredited CBT clinicians. Don't be tempted by the gimmicks offering fast cure for large amounts of money. I really hope you get the help you need and deserve .

I could have written your post word for word a few years ago
It ruled and ruined my life.
I am much better on sertraline.
Not cured but able to think more rationally about it and let my kids do more

When did this fear start @Glittersmoke? Can you remember a particular incident or was there an influential person in your childhood with a similar fear?